The cohesive leadership system hypothesis -- Research relevant to cohesive leadership systems -- Data Sources and Analytic Approach -- What policies and initiatives have states and districts pursued to improve school leadership? -- How are districts and states interacting to improve school leadership? -- To what extent have CLS sites built cohesion among policies and initiatives? -- How have sites built CLSs and why have some sites been more effective than others? -- How are sites attempting to scale up and sustain their work? -- Do we find support for the CLS hypothesis? -- Policies and Initiatives Taken to Improve Leadership -- Variations in State and District Roles in Improving School Leadership -- Building Cohesion Across Policies and Initiatives -- Efffective Stategies for System-Building -- Growing importance of the state -- Strategies pursued to develop cohesive leadership systems -- Differences in strategies across sites -- Contextual factors enabling and inhibiting efforts to build a CLS -- Contextual differences across sites -- Prospects for Sustainability -- Challenges to sustainment and expansion -- Strategies for sustainment and growth -- Support for the CLS Hypothesis -- Instructional leadership practices -- Links between favorable conditions and engagement with instructional leadership practices -- Recommendations -- Consider local contexts and address the challenges they pose -- Identify strong lead organizations and individuals -- Capitalize on external expertise and funding -- Build trust and mend fences -- Engage a broad coalition of stakeholders -- Hone skills at applying pressure while providing support -- Recognize innovative districts as "lead learners" -- Connect leadership efforts to standards and to other reforms in the state -- Solidify programs and funding through legislation and regulations -- Engage in continuous learning and improvement -- Commit to engaging in the work over the long term.